Yarn severing and clamping device for knitting-machines



A. M. PIGEON. YARN SEVEHING AND CLAMPING DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT, 21, 1916- 1,400,180.

Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

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A. M. PIGEON. YARN SEVERING AND CLAMPING DEVICE FOR K NITTING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21. 1916.

v 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"Ill!(Ill!IllIi"WIWWNIINIIMMill Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

A. M. PIGEON. YARN SEVERING AND CLAMPING DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT 21, 1916. 1,400,180.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

OFFIQE.

ALBERT TvI. PIGEON, OF NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WILDMAN MFG. (3Q, OF NOBRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, A GORI PORATION 0F PENNSYLVLVIA.

YARN SEVERING AND CLAMPING- DEVICE FOB KNITTING-MACHINM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. is, rear.

Application filed September 21, 1916. Serial No. 121,405.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT M. PIGEoN, of Norristown, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Yarn severing and Clamping Devices for Knitting-Machines, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The inventlon relates more particularly to knitting machines embodying multiple yarn feeds, wherein uponthe substitution of one yarn for another it is desired to sever a yarn whose uide is moved to inoperative position. The primary object of the invention is to insure a clean, swift severance of the yarn.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a yarn severing mechanism wherein the movable member of the severing device is spring-actuated andsaid member is set and tripped by a moving element controlled by asuitable pattern mechanism.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means whereby the said movable element which serves to set and trip. the movable severing member is operated simultaneously with the devices which shift the yarn guides to inoperative position.

A still further feature of the invention is to provide an organization of the above character, wherein said severing mechanism is so supportedthat it may be shifted vertically with the needle cylinder in fashioning and transfer operations and maintain its proper position relative thereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, Figure I, is a view, partly in longitudinal section and partly in side elevation, of a portion of a.

knitting machine to which my improvements have been applied.

Fig. II, is a perspective view of the upper portion of the needle cylinder and needles, showing the general relation of the thread feeds and the clamping and severing devices.

Fig. III, is a perspective view of the thread clamping plate, its supporting arm and the operative devices carried thereby.

Fig. IV, illustrates in perspective the movable stop arm for the yarn supporting cam plate.

Fig. V, is a detail elevation showing the manner of setting the movable shear blade in readiness to sever a yarn.

Fig. VI, is a detail sectional view taken on the line VI, VI, of Fig. I.

Fig. VII, is a detail View showing the operation of the dog during the return stroke of the cam by which the movable member of the shear is actuated.

Fig. VIII, is a detail sectional view on a.

art of the plane indicated by the line VIII, l III, in Fig. I.

Fig. IX, is a fragmentary plan view of the yarn supporter cam plate and the adjustable means for preventing its rotation.

The invention comprises primarily a yarn severing device, having a stationary cutting blade and a movable cutting blade. The movable blade is spring-actuated and is controlled by means of a movable trip, which not only raises it to the set position, but releases'it at the proper moment, so that the spring may actuate. it to sever the yarn. This movable trip is actuated by the same devices which control the position of the yarn guides, so that when a yarn guide is moved to its inoperative position, the cutting blade is set and tripped, and the yarn is severed. Associated with the severing mechanism is a yarn clamping device beneath which the yarn is drawn as it is presented to the severing mechanism, so that the end of the yarn is clamped and held until the yarn guide is returned to effective or operative position, when the yarn Wlll at once he in a position to be fed to the needles. In the machine here shown and described, the

cutting and clamping means as a whole is stationary within the circle of needles, and the yarn guide moves up and down outside the circle of needles to carry the yarn into and out of engagement with the needles.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, I have shown my improved yarn severing mechanism as applied to a knitting machine having a needle cylinder 1, mounted for rotation in a supporting ring 2, and drivenin any convenient manner from a main drivabout a rock shaft 9, journaled in fixedv ing shaft 3. The knitting is efiected through a series of spring beard needles 5, with which beard depressors 6, cooperate. The yarn is supported while being fed to the needles by yarn supporters 7.

Located so as to overhang the needle cylinder is an arm 8, having an angular rear extension 8, which is fulcrumed to turn brackets 10, extending upwardly from the bed plate 11, of the machine. Clamped to the rock shaft 9, is an arm 12, (see Fig. IV). The arm 12, is provided with a head 13, having a tapered projection 14, adapted to engage within a bifurcation in a fixed stop 15, mounted upon the bed plate of the machine. As shown in Fig. IX, this head 13, projects upwardly and extends between projecting lugs 16, carried by the cap plate 17, of the yarn supported dial. These projecting lugs 16, are provided with stop screws 18, which may be adjusted to accurately engage the sides of the head 13, thereby serving as a means for preventing the rotation of the cap plate with the needle cylinder. A sector plate 19, is also fixed upon the shaft 9, and a spring-pressed pin 20, carried by one of the brackets 10, is adapted to engage an opening in the sector plate 19, to prevent rotation of the said shaft, so as to hold the arm 12, in the lowered position shown in Figs. 1, and V, of

the drawings. The arm may be raised, however, after the pin 20, is -withdrawn and said pin may then be dropped into the opening 21, in the sector plate 19, so as to hold the arm in raised position and afford access to the needle cylinder. When the arm 12, is

raised, the head 13, is withdrawn from be tween the arms 16, and this releases the cap plate on the needle cylinder, so that it may be readily shifted about the needle cylinder if desired. The bifurcated stop 15, engaging the arm 12, holds the same against lateral movement.

The arm 8 is freely mounted on the rock shaft 9, and a spring 22, normally tends to force the outer end 8 of the arm downward. A downward depending stop screw 23, is carried by said arm and is adapted to engage the cap plate 17, and thus limit the downward movement of the arm. The

spring 22, is attached at one end to a pin 24, carried by the arm 12, and at the other end to a pin 25, mounted in the portion '8 tween the arms 9, and 12, permits a compensating range of lost motion of the arm 8, as the needle cylinder is raised and lowered in fashioning or transfer operations, so that all the parts carried by the arm 8, are at all times maintained in accurate operative relation to the needles.

At the forward end of the arm 8, is a transverse extension 28, which supports at its lower end a guard plate 30, see Fig. 111. This plate is horizontally disposed within the circle of the needles at a point directly above the top of the needle cylinder. The plate 30, is slotted at 31, to receive and allow for'the movement of a downwardly depending shearing blade 32, which cooperates with a substantially horizontal fixed shearing blade 33. This fixed shearing blade is adjustably mounted on the upper surface of the guard plate 30, and has on its upper surface an upstanding pin which helps to guide the yarn. The movable shearing blade 32, is pivotally suspended from the outer end of a link 34, and yieldingly maintained in operative contact with the fixed shearing blade by means of a coiled spring 35. The link 34, is fulcrumed at 36, to the side of the arm 8, and is capable of movement in a vertical plane, within the range limited by the stops 37, and 38, (see Fig. VI). These stops are formed integrally with the lateral extension 28, of the arm 8.

The link 34, is moved by means of a link- 39, mounted upon the opposite side of the arm 8, and fulcrumed thereon at 40, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. I and V. A clip 41, of inverted L shape is secured to the link 34, by a screw 42, and the horizontal portion of said clip extends over the arm 8, and also over the link 39. A leaf spring 43, bears downwardly against the clip 41, and thereby tends to maintain the link 34, in its lowered position against the lower stop 38.

The movements of the link 39, are transmitted through the clip 42, to the link 34. To prepare for the severing action of the movable shearing blade 32, the link 39, is raised by means about to be described, thus lifting the link 34, and blade 32, and placing the spring 43, under tension.

The link 39, is quickly released and the spring 43, throws the movable blade 32,

down, severing cleanly the yarn which is' laid underneath said blade.

This lifting of the movable blade against the tension of the spring 43, is, in effect, the setting operation of the blade, and when released this spring effects an instantaneous tripping of the blade. This setting and tripping of the blade is brought about by means of the cam sector 45, which is pivotally mounted on the rock shaft 9, and engagesa dog 46, pivot-ally mounted at 47, upon the free rear end of the link 39. The edge or operative face of the cam sector 45,

incense has a portion 48, inclined to the radial line, a curved portion 49, concentric with the axis of rotation and a substantially radial portion 50. In the forward movement of the cam sector (indicated by the arrows in Fig. V), the link 39, is raised by reason of the dog 46, riding up the inclined edge 48. While the curved edge 49 is moving past the dog, the blade is held in its raised position. When the radial edge '50, of the cam sector reaches the dog the latter drops suddenly off the cam edge, thus permitting the link 39, to descend, whereupon the severing mechanism is tripped, allowing the spring 43, to actuate the movable shearing blade and cut the yarn.

It will thus be apparent that this cam sector raises the severing blade against the tension of the spring 43, and holds the same in said position for an interval of time, before the tripping occurs. This tripping permits the severing blade to be moved instantaneously and thereby causes a clean cutting or" the yarn, which could not be accomplished by a slow movement of the parts, such as ordinarily would result if the moving cutting blade were positively connected with the link actuated by the cam sector.

The return movement of the cam sector- 45, is ineffective in imparting any further movement to the movable shearing blade, as the dog e6, swings freely about its fulcrum under pressure in that direction, as clearly illustrated in Fig. VII. The dog isformed with a stop 51, which prevents the same from swinging beyond the vertical line when the cam sector is raising the link 39.

Cobperating with the shearing mechanism is a yarn-clamping mechanism, which is constructed. as follows: A yarn clamp 52,

(see Fig. HT), is pivoted upon the pin 4A,

carried by the link 34:, and a spring 53, encircling the pin 44, engages the clamp and presses the same downwardly into contact with the upper face of the fixed shearing blade 33, at a short distance laterally from the slot 31. The upstanding pin on the fixed blade 33 aids in guiding the yarn in proper position in reference to the clamp 52. The lower face of the clamp52, has a blunt edge, inclined as indicated at 54. The cutting edge of the movable shearing blade is also in clined as indicated, at 55, to facilitate the reception of a yarn when its guide is moved to inactive position.

The cam sector 45, is operated by the link 56, which is pivoted thereto at one end, and at the other. end to the operating rod 57, which rotates the controlling drum 58, for the yarn guides. In Fig. H, of the drawings, T have indicated the main yarn guide 59, and supplemental yarn guides 60, 61,

and 62, res ectively in their inoperative po-.

sitions. h/y improved cutting device is adapted to operate upon the yarns carried by any one of these yarn guides. I have also shown a yarn guide 63, which is in op- 'erative position, directing the yarn to the guide is lifted to inoperative position, the

movement of the needle cylinder will carry the yarn (then extending between said yarn guide and the last needle having a loop formed from this yarn), across the plate 30, and underneath the clamp 52, which will clamp the yarn. The yarn will also be drawn between this movable shearing blade and the fixed shearing blade. This operation is so timed as to take place before the movable shearing blade is tripped, so that when said blade is finally released the yarn will be in a proper position to be severed. When this yarn guide is again thrown into action, the movement of the needle cylinder will withdraw the end of the yarn from the yarn clamp.

' t is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, T claim:

1. A yarn severing mechanism for knitting machines, including in combination, a needle cylinder; needles carried thereby; yarn guides, a relatively fixed shearing blade, a movable shearing blade, a spring for actuating said last named blade for its shearing action; an oscillatory cam; and devices coeperating with said cam to shift and set said movable shearing blade against the tension of the spring, to hold said blade in its set position, and to trip said blade, all during movement of said oscillatory cam one way.

2. A yarn severin mechanism for a knitting machine includiing a needle cylinder, needles carried thereby, and yarn guides; said mechanism comprising shearing blades movable relatively to one another, and spring actuating means for producing their relative shearing movement; and oscillatory means for shifting and setting saidblades against the spring tension and for tripping said blades, said means being ineffective upon the relative positions of said blades during its own movement in one direction.

3. A yarn severing mechanism forknit ting machines, including in" combination, a needle cylinder; needles carried thereby; yarn guides; a relatively fixed shearing blade; a movable shearing blade; spring means for actuating said last named blade I for its shearing action; means for raising the movable shearing blade against the tension of the spring for setting and tripping the same; said means also supporting said severing blades whereby the same are moved up and down with the needle c'ylinderand maintain the same relative position thereto.

LA yarn severing mechanism for knitting machines, including in combination, a supporting arm; a fixed shearing blade carried thereby, a movable shearing blade pivotally supported on said arm; a spring for supporting arm; a fixed shearing blade carried thereby; a movable shearing blade pivotally supportedon said arm; a spring for actuating said last named blade for its shearing action; a swingin link for raising said movable shearing blade; a pivoted dog car- 'ried by'the free end of said swinging link;

a sector cam having an inclined edge portion adapted to engage said dog for raising the movable shearing blade, a curved concentrio edge portion for holding. said movable blade in raised position and an abrupt releasing edge portion for tripping said movable blade.

6. A yarn severing mechanism for knitting machines, including in combination, a supporting arm; a fixed shearing blade carried thereby; a movable shearing blade pivotally supported on said arm; a sprin for actuating said last named blade for its s earing action; a swinging link for raising said movable shearing blade; a pivoted dog carried by the free end of said swinging link; a sector cam having an inclined edge portion adapted to engage said dog, for raising the movable shearing blade, a curved concentric edge portion for holding said movable blade raised, and an abrupt releasing edge portion tripping said movable severing blade, said dog being pivoted to the swing-' ing link and being provided with a stop for arresting the swinging movement thereof when the sector cam is moving in one direction, while permitting free movement of the dog when the sector cam is moving in the op osite direction.

I A yarn severing device for knitting machines, including in combination, a needle cylinder; needles carried thereby; a pivoted arm; a spring for yieldingly pressing said pivoted arm toward the needle cylinder; a stop carried by the arm for limiting the movement of the arm toward the needle cylinder; a fixed shearing blade carried by said spring for yieldingly pressingsaid pivoted arm toward the needle cylinder; a stop carried by the arm and engaging the cap plate of the needle cylinder for limiting the movement of the arm toward the needle cylinder; a fixed shearing blade carried by said arm; a movable shearing blade carried by said arm, a spring for actuating said last named blade for its shearing action; a swinging link for lifting the movable blade; a sector cam adapted to engage said swinging link for raising the movable blade, for holding the same in raised position, and for tripping the same, and a yarn clamp carried by said arm and adapted to clamp the yarn at a point between the severing edges and the yarn guide.

9. A yarn severing device, for a knitting machine, including in combination, a needle cylinder; needles carried thereby; a pivoted arm; a plate mounted upon the free end of said arm; a fixed severing blade mounted on said plate, said plate having a slot thereon adjacent tothe edge of the severing blade; a movable severing blade adapted to cooperate with the fixed severing blade; a swinging link carrying said movable severing blade; a spring engaging said arm and adapted to move the blade for its severing action; a stop carried by the arm for limiting the movement of the blade, a second swinging link engaging the first namedswinging link for raising the severing blade,a pivoted dog carried by said second swinging link; and a sector cam adapted to engage said link for raising the severing blade, holding the severing blade in raised position and tripping the same for its severing action.

10. A yarn severing device, for a knitting machine, including in combination, a needle cylinder; needles carried thereby; a pivoted arm; a plate mounted upon the free end of said arm; a fixed severing blade mounted on said plate, said plate having a slot thereon adjacent to the edge of the severing blade; a movable severing blade adapted to cooperate with the fixed severing blade; a swinging link connected to said movable severing blade; a spring engaging said. arm for actuating the blade for its severing action; a stop carried by the arm for limiting the movement of the-blade; a second swinging link engaging the first named swinging link incense for raising the severing blade; a pivoted dog carrier by said second swinging link, a sector cam adapted to engage said dog for raising the severing blade, holdin it in raised position, and tripping-1t for its sev ering action; a yarn clamp pivot-ally mounted on the first mentioned swinging link; and a spring normally tending to press said yarn clamp into engagement with the fixed severing blade for clamping the'yarn.

11. A yarn severing mechanism for knitting machines including in combination, a needle cylinder, needles carried thereby, yarn guides, a relatively. fixed shearing blade, a movable shearing blade, spring means for actuating said movable shearing blade for its shearing action, and oscillatory means for raising and setting the movable shearing blade against the tension of the spring and supporting the-same and also tripping the same, all during movement of said oscillatory means one way.

12. A yarn severing mechanism for a knitting machine including a needle cylinder, needles carried thereby, and yarn guides; said mechanism comprising shearing blades stationary within the circle of needles, but

movable relatively to one another with their cutting edges extending at right angles to the yarn; relatively movable supporting members for said blades extending in sub stantially the direction of the yarn: and tripping actuating means for said blades.

13. A yarn severing mechanism for a knitting machine including a needle cylinder, needles carried thereby, and yarn guides; said mechanism comprising shearing blades stationary within the circle of needles, but movable relatively to one another; and lying in planes approximately at right angles to one another with their cutting edges extendingat right angles to the yarn; relatively movable supporting members for said blades extending in substantially the direction of the yarn; and a clamp member carried by the supporting member of one of said blades and co'dperating with the other of said blades to clamp and secure the yarn when severed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylva-= nia, this twentieth day of Se tember, 1916.

ALBERT PIG'EGN.

Witnesses:

Jea ine H. BELL,

Fnmna'ron. 

